"Housekeeping" at REGI

The Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI) is best known for our avian rehabilitation and education, but there is a lot of additional work that goes on here just to keep REGI in once piece. Having recently celebrated our 20th anniversary, some of our oldest buildings are showing severe ware and tear. When we aren't caring for our hundreds of bird patients or speaking to the public about the wonderful world of raptors, we are running around trying to fix up and maintain the REGI property.
 
Today we were lucky to have help from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point Professional Development in Environmental Education and Interpretation practicum class lead by Dr. Brenda Lackey. She brought her students up to REGI for a few hours to see how we do our public tours and to help us complete one of our big "housekeeping" projects.

Our Sandhill Crane enclosures are covered in privacy mesh which helps the cranes feel more comfortable, but years of wind, rain, and ice have done their damage. Hanging on by threads in some areas, the mesh was no longer acceptable. The students helped us with the big task of replacing the mesh.

The huge roll of mesh was rolled out and measurements were taken. 

The careful job of pulling the mesh over to the enclosure begins. At this point, the job seems like a big challenge, but many helpful hands help us to succeed.  

Licensed rehabilitator, Alberta Halfmann, perches atop the crane enclosure along with one of the student volunteers. Carefully securing the mesh while keeping the sides taut is tricky, but they're doing well! 

A view from inside the crane enclosure- rehabilitation assistant, Brennan Rausch waits to help secure the mesh from the inside. 

Nearly finished, some of the student volunteers and Alberta apply the finishing touches to secure the mesh on the top of the enclosure. 

Dr. Brenda Lackey (far left); the student volunteers; Director of Education, Molly McKay; licensed rehabilitator, Alberta Halfmann; and (peeking out from inside the mesh) rehabilitation assistant, Brennan Rausch, stand in front of the finished enclosure. It looks so much better! 

Thank you UW-SP students! We are so thankful for your help with this project. Having so many helpful hands made this project go quickly and smoothly. With our small staff, projects like this are hard to complete on our own (especially when our clinic is full of patients), but volunteer groups save the day.

If you would like to volunteer your time by helping us here at REGI, please call our education office at (715) 623-2563. We would love your help!

That's all for today. Have a great weekend!

Karissa Mohr

Wildlife Educator